8th Icse English Language Practice Set

Letter Writing
a. Recently you went to a restaurant for dinner and there you saw your favourite
sports star. You had an opportunity of spending some moments with him or
her. In a letter to your friend, give a brief account of your memorable meeting
with the sports star.
b. There is a huge event in your school and due to some reason your friend has
missed it. Write a letter to your friend describing him the function and what
your role in it was.
c. One of your grandparents has completed one hundred years of age. Write a
letter congratulating him/her, expressing gratitude, praise and admiration for
the way he/she has lived his/her life.
d. An exchange student from South Africa will be arriving next month to visit
your school and attend classes and activities for the duration of a month.
Write a letter briefing him/her on your school routine. Give any other
information that you think this student may need.
e. Write a letter to the editorial head of any newspaper telling him about your
views about global warming , its effects and what should we do to prevent it.
Essay Writing:
(a) Me and my big mouth!
(b) Punctuality is the virtue of life. Elaborate a real life experience.
(c) Pets are important for every house. Write for or against the topic.
(d) Write an short story which would illustrates the significance of the statement
- One lie gives birth to other lie.
Reading Comprehension: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.
The Incredible Machine Everyone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park,
and I am no different. However, unlike most people who seem to prefer
rollercoasters, my favorite ride is a little more gentle. Every time I go to Coney
Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris
wheel. The Ferris wheel is simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is
easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of carts are attached to a wheel,
which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and gravity
keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can
make safe and fun Ferris wheels.
While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting. The
fact of being high in the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I
mean, how often do you hang from that high up in daily life? Nevertheless, I have to
admit, I dont seek Ferris wheels out because of their excitement. Rather, I find
them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of the
park. You also get a sense of calm that you dont get in the hustle and bustle of the
park below. Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit
up at night. In fact, the original Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to
be ridden.
The first Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris,
Jr. He designed it for the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction
there, standing 264 feet high. However, visitors to the fair were impressed by the
size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it. In 1893, anything that was not turned
by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a machine, was
truly incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because
it seemed to be missing support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its
own. And yet it did and even rotated!
Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of todays Ferris wheels
are much larger than that first one. The largest in the world is the "Singapore Flyer,"
which stands slightly taller than twice what Ferriss did! Today, the Ferris wheel is
the most common amusement park ride. But that does not mean you should take
them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris invention. The next time youre at
an amusement park, dont just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your
way to a newer attraction. Take it for a spin!
1) As used in paragraph 1, the word attraction most nearly means
A. sense B. park C. ride D. vision
2) It can be understood that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier are
all examples of
A. amusement parks B. Ferris wheels C. vacation spots D. boat docks
3) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for complex?
A. impressive B. beautiful C. exciting D. simple
4) According to the passage, the Ferris wheel was originally designed for
A. Coney Island B. The Worlds fair C. Disneyworld D. Singapore
5) What does the author like best about Ferris Wheels?
6) The author suggests something to those who are visiting amusement parks. What
advice does he give?
Comprehension answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
C
A
D
B
The author explains what he or she likes best about Ferris wheels in the
fourth paragraph. find them very relaxing because of the beautiful sights of
the park one gets at the top of the ride. The thing he or she likes best about
Ferris wheels, then, is the beautiful sights and relaxation they allow.
(Explanation: The author does describe the impressive engineering and
beauty of Ferris wheels. However, he or she does not say those are his
favorite things about the rides. Instead, in paragraph 4, the author explains
the reason he or she seeks Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them
very relaxing. In fact, the author suggests that Ferris wheels are not that
exciting. He or she writes that a Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a roller
coaster. Instead, in paragraph 4, the author explains the reason he or she
seeks Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them very relaxing.
Though the author ends the passage by saying that most amusement parks
have a Ferris wheel, he or she does not say that he likes Ferris wheels
because of this. Instead, in paragraph 4, the author explains the reason he or
she seeks Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them very relaxing.)
6. The author has a suggestion for the reader in the last paragraph. He says
that the next time the reader is at an amusement park, he should not just
look up at the impressive Ferris wheel in the park and move on to a newer
attraction. He wants the reader to take it for a spin! Thus he wants the reader
to not miss the Ferris Wheel for some other newer ride

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Letter Writing

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